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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 5 Hansard (13 May) . . Page.. 1273 ..

MR SPEAKER (continuing):

(d) the need for Members, while fearlessly performing their duties, to have regard to the rights of others; and

(e) the desirability of ensuring that statements reflecting adversely on persons are soundly based.

(2) That the Speaker, whenever the Speaker considers that it is desirable to do so, may draw the attention of the Legislative Assembly to the spirit and the letter of this resolution.

(3) That this resolution have effect from the commencement of the Third Assembly and continue in force unless and until amended or repealed by this or a subsequent Assembly.

Could I ask that members, in referring to public servants, senior officials of the Territory Administration and others, keep in mind this 4 May 1995 resolution.

Ms McRae: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. Your statement does not answer the point which I raised. You crossed over the line and decided that certain descriptions were either an inference or an allegation. What you have read out relates to inferences, imputations and allegations, none of which was used. You exercised your authority to intervene to say that particular words were out of order, but in everything you have said I still do not hear the grounds on which you did that. If you choose to include public servants in the list of people like the Queen and other members, may I suggest as a point of order that that be taken to the Administration and Procedure Committee and this Assembly determine about whom we will limit our comments. I do not think that calling Mr Walker the vice-president in the way that Mr Whitecross did had anything to do with inferences of improper behaviour, allegations of any kind or imputations of any kind. I do believe that you have crossed over that line, and I would like further guidance as to where that crossover will happen. I would further suggest that the Administration and Procedure Committee look at that matter in greater depth.

MR SPEAKER: I am happy to rule on this. The point that you have made in relation to standing orders is, of course, perfectly correct. I deliberately read the resolution agreed to on 4 May 1995 as something that all members should take into account when they are making any statements in this chamber. It is not a question of breaching standing orders. I am well aware that standing orders are very limited in this respect. However, the resolution of 4 May 1995 is extremely broad and I would ask all members to take that into account in the comments they make. Nevertheless, the final decision relating to this comes back to standing orders, and I will be very happy to take the matter to the Administration and Procedure Committee to tighten up standing orders if members are not prepared to respect the resolution which was unanimously supported on 4 May 1995.

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